A funny thing happened on the way to the opera....

This last Friday and Sunday, SF City Chorus presented their Grand Opera: Choruses & Arias. The chorus and the soloists were amazing as usual. Normally, I'm not a fan of opera, but the concert was filled with familiar, classical snippets popularized in movies, commercials, and music that I recognized. Works included pieces from Aida and Carmen. Of particular splendor was the Messo-Soprano, Miss Lisa Van der Ploeg. She had vocal talents that would make a monkey juggling burning bowling balls stop and listen. (She definitely got this monkey's attention.) Her voice filled the entire sanctuary and made your body reverberate the emotions she conveyed. Furthermore, she expressed the joy of her songs through her expression and liveliness. The chorus provided a rich and colorful backdrop as the audience, witnesses, and counterbalances for each of the solo pieces.

The concert was followed by a rather elegant reception thrown by Jen and Rosa, an alto section member of the chorus. Many high praises go to the girls as they threw a very elegant affair on a very limited budget and were not allowed to serve alcohol. They served a sparkling, cranberry, raspberry, lemon-lime punch, smoked salmon & cream cheese canapés, fresh fruit & crudités platters, a selection of hard and soft cheeses, and a variety of cookies & pastries. Pretty good spread on about $200 for 200 people.

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Culinary World of the Day: Canapés
A canapé or canape (known in Italy as tartine) is a small, prepared and usually decorative hors d'oeuvres, held in the fingers and often eaten in one bite. Source: Wikipedia